A worn out book!!!

"Miss, you forgot this book."

Yu Li turned around to see the old librarian calling her. He was a decent man that had a love for books. This was the reason he was still working in this place despite enjoying his retirement.

She smiled and saw the book in his hands. It was a yellow, worn-out book that looked like it has been abandoned by time.

"Uncle, it's not mine. You are mistaken."

She was here to read some new books as there was nothing to do in the orphanage. Yu Li was an orphan and was working for the same orphanage that had given the opportunity to live her life safely.

She was twenty and should be in college but due to the death of their old aunt who was looking after them, she decided to take her position until a new head is elected for them.

The old man returned her smile and placed the book in her hand without any choice. "I am not wrong, dear. It was lying on your table and as you can see it does not have the seal of this library on it. This is yours as it was lying on your designated spot."

"Really? Then, I will take it. Thanks."

Yu Li knew that the man was not lying as he had especially arranged a separate place for her to read due to her insistence. She was a frequent visitor but this library was famous for its charm and mostly filled with occupants so she had to wait for hours if she was late sometimes.

It was not the only library in the city but had a certain charm which made people attracted to this old place which was a hundred and twenty years old.

She took the worn-out book from his hand and made her way out as it was quite late in the night. She decided to check the book after going back to the orphanage. Anyway, one more book can't harm her when she was already carrying four books for this week.

Yu Li saw her room was opened and guessed that Song Hua, her best friend must be here to visit again, after fighting with her family.

"Hey! You finally decided to come back," shouted Song Hua as she hugged her tight. "I was waiting for you. I am going to stay here from now on. I have decided."

Song Hua shrieked in her ears as if to confirm her words reached her ears. Yu Li was in pain as her ears stung because of her loud voice.

Yu Li rolled her eyes at her idiot friend who was hell-bent on destroying her auditory functions.

"It's final. I am not lying." Song Hua confidently said as her fat body hovered over Yu Li.

Yu Li knew that something must have gone wrong at her house for Song Hua to behave like this again. "Mmm. Why? What happened this time?"

"Same as usual. They were bullying me because I am fat. Can you believe it? They are so childish. Is it so wrong to be healthier? I am just a little bit heavier from all of them. Why are they behaving like I murdered someone? Is it a crime? Tell me, Yu Li?"

Song Hua cried as she questioned her, her voice louder each time, it was now a common sight for Yu Li to see her like this. Song Hua was pretty but her slightly fat body was always used by her family to target her.

"No, it is not a crime. How many times do I have to tell you to not mind them? You are old enough to move out of the house and live your own life on your terms." Yu Li told her forcefully otherwise she knew that Song Hua would continue to lament over this issue and tire herself to sleep.

"But...they always do this to me. Am I not their daughter? They only see the flaws in me."

Although she was not crying anymore, Yu Li could see her disturbed mind without the presence of tears.

"It is not a flaw, Huahua. You are fat. So what? You like to eat but hate to exercise that's why you gained weight and it does not mean that you are wrong or being little heavier from the masses is terrible. There are many more troubling matters in life that need your concern. Stop wasting your time and love on those people who don't even try to understand you."

Yu Li told her again what she thought about this issue as it was normal for her to console Song Hua whenever she put too much attention on things that should not exactly matter in life.

"They are my loved ones." Song Hua refuted again.

Yu Li saw that Song Hua was still stuck on this point and all the things that she was saying might not reach her but as her friend, it was Yu Li's duty to help her.

"Even if they are your loved ones, it does not give them the right to judge you. Grow up and stand up for yourself." Yu Li said softly.

Song Hua cried again as she pondered on the fact that her only friend told her. It was not something new for her but she never wanted to think like that and remain ignorant forever as she was not daring enough to go against her family.

It disheartens her that her family did body shaming and picked on her whenever she did something silly, it was always like this, she didn't want to accept it.

Yu Li was always smarter than her, she remained calm and indifferent in situations like this whenever others pointed fingers at her but she always did whatever she wanted to do. This quality had impressed her back then when they were still in kindergarten.

She thought that she would see the change in Yu Li after her mom died four years ago and she had to stay with her aunt who ran this orphanage but Yu Li was still strong as ever.

She cried and was in pain to lose the only blood-related member in her family but never broke down. Yu Li was so much better in this aspect than her. She was such a disappointment for a girl like Yu Li who can't see anything wrong.

"I know, you are right. I am weak but I will try to change for the better. They can go to hell for underestimating me." Song Hua enthusiastically pledged.

Yu Li thought that it was just like before that Song Hua said all these things but ultimately came back again after feeling bad because of her family. She allowed her to do whatever she wanted as she was aware that she was the only happy light in Song Hua's life. Yu Li could still tolerate this pure-hearted girl's silliness in her life.

"Good! You are aware." Yu Li chuckled as she gave her a cold glass of water to cool her down. "I brought some new books. Try reading them. They are the best medicine to cure sadness." She brought the books and placed them on her bed.

It was almost midnight as both the girls sat on the bed preparing to read and discuss a new story for the night. If anything that was common in both of them was that they both were bookworms who loved to enjoy the new world offered by books.

Song Hua finally smiled as she asked Yu Li about her day.

"It was boring. After aunt's death, I did the work but now that the new head is here I am practically free. I have nothing to do. Here are new stories that I thought would interest you."

Yu Li said as she brought the book that came in her hand. It was the same old and worn out book that she was given by the librarian.

Song Hua frowned to see the quality of the book. "Did you find some ancient text for me? Why is it so old and...yellow? It does not look like the quality offered by the city library."

"I know. I just picked it as the old librarian put it in my hand. Let's see what is inside this yellow book." Yu Li suggested and opened the book with not much expectation.

Song Hua snickered. "Heck! What is wrong with you? You brought an empty book home. Nah! I think it is too old that the text disappeared overtime."

As the words left her mouth, thunder and lightening covered the clear sky; Yu Li was confused to see the book and the sudden change in the sky.

"Who would leave this in the library? The old man must be trying to throw it discreetly." Yu Li doubted the old librarian. "It's nothing special."

##$#@

Lightning struck the window as if offended by her words and everything blacked out. Song Hua screamed in fear as she gripped Yu Li's hands in the darkness. "Heck! Save me Li'er!" The glass in her hand shattered and pierced Yu Li's hand in the unexpected action, the blood dripped down the book drop by drop.

"Fuck! What are you doing?" Yu Li cussed in pain.

The old yellow book absorbed her blood and flashed a blinding golden light in the complete darkness enveloping her and Song Hua's hand which was on top of the first page.

"WELCOME HOLY SAINTESS."

Yu Li's eyes widened to see the strange phenomenon but before she could say anything the light enveloped their entire body and they lost consciousness.